Be Prepared
September 6, 2012 - 5:00 am“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people . . .’ After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, ‘Prepare yourselves for the third day . . . ’” — Exodus 19:10, 14–15
In Exodus, as God was about to appear to the people of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai, He instructed Moses to have the people prepare themselves for that occasion. In the book of Numbers, the word “prepare” appears more than 30 times as God gave His people detailed instructions for how the people were to prepare the sacrifices and themselves for worship. Clearly, being prepared is important to God.
In the Jewish tradition, the extensive, detailed preparation for the Sabbath and our anticipation of this special day are essential parts of its observance. Just as the Israelites prepared themselves physically and spiritually before receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, so we undergo a physical and spiritual preparation before experiencing Shabbat.
Listen to what the God says in the book of Exodus: “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work” (20:9). Physically, we plan to finish all our work in six days. If we embrace this mindset and plan for the week, then we are both physically and mentally ready for Shabbat.
You’re probably wondering how that is possible in today’s demanding workplace, where, with today’s technology, we are able to take our work with us wherever we are?
The rabbis take this passage to mean that we should feel as if all our work has been completed when the Sabbath arrives. Our work undoubtedly will still be there when the work week begins again, but we are to greet the Shabbat in a spirit of peace, without anxious thoughts of what has yet to be done. Our hearts and minds should be focused on Him and all that His grace provides for us.
Is that how you approach the Lord’s Day? Individually, and then with your family, consider what steps you can take to prepare for your worship time. What can you do to ensure that you are greeting this day of worship in a true spirit of peace?
For years my wife and I would not run the washer and dryer , clean,the home, or run the dishwasher, or wash any dishes, or take care the garden or do any yard work, or have the tv on if the the TV is in the home. God focus is very important. But, we had family guests and a total nursing care guest @ our home that needed to hand fed and total nursing care tended to her. She loved the LORD and she wanted to hear the LORD WORD. It was a lot of work to make sure every Sunday she hears the Word and worship Him in church. There were times she atimes it has been hard. I know we were awarded from God all the effort we done Up in Indiana.
Re: God’s Stop Sign
Thank you for your wonderful and thought provoking devotionals.
My single misgiving is your over-sensitivity to not ruffle any feathers;
in the subject devotional your final paragraph reads:
/Consider how you might change your attitudes and behaviors on Sunday to keep your focus on God. In what ways can you affirm God as Creator?/
Dear Sir! what has /sunday /to do with the the Sabbath? It being the first of 7 and the Sabbath the 7th of seven. The one the beginning of Creation, the other the Rest from it. I would not mention sunday at all. Just let God’s word be what it says.
I was raised to worship on Sunday, but thank someone who told it straight, making me research the subject of Sabbath in Scripture, and even the New Testament does the Sabbath no harm. Saturday remains the sabbath and no other day can replace it.
God made Sabbath for man, and if man wants to turn the back on that gift, let us not encourage him
God Bless you brother!
Steve
Dear Rabbi, Please Forgive Me If I Just Don’t Understand You Ways!!! The Jewish Ways!!! But Today You Said “Listen To What The God Says” For Some Reason Saying “The God” And Leaving It Opened Like That Bothers Me!!! Maybe If I Was A Jew I Would Understand Something Here That Being A Christian I Do Not Understand??? I Would Love It If You Could Explain To Me Why You Said “The God” And Not Just “GOD” Or “The GOD Of Israel”
Please Forgive Me And Know That I Mean No Disrespect To You!!!
Take Care And G-D Bless You Always!!!
David
dpperry001@cox.net
Rabbi, why did GOD not apear to the people after on the third day as HE said?
Each one of us, after hard labors, after hard toils, after much sweatings, and what you name it, we come to the worship and fellowship of our Eternal Creator, God, just in the day of Shabbat. Yes, the Shabbat of God’s chosen people, Israel, is the Sabbath of all believers in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who Himself was a Jew, who ransomed us to His Heavenly kingdom of rest. I join you with this truth, peace and understanding. God bless Israel!
May God Bless Israel and all her people and all who want peace. Thank you for the devotional very important to hear.
We can “Prepare” ourselves just as our LORD,our God commanded Moses and the children of Israel to do!
Amen
It takes a period of adjustment to move to the Sabbath as the true day of worship and rest. The weekly schedule needs to be “shifted” and then our priorities also rearrange, and we are rewarded for obedience to the heart of God with true peace.